Arsenal have offered a ‘unique’ manager who is ‘better than Guardiola’ in terms of tactics
Arsenal have been contacted by the manager’s agents, as the Gunners have been informed of his desire to move to England, according to reports.
Arsenal are locked in a Premier League title race with Man City
Arsenal are into the semi-finals of the Champions League for the second consecutive season, but Wednesday night at the Emirates will do nothing to silence the doubters.
A 0-0 draw against a Sporting side who have not won in England in their last 10 attempts was enough to go 1-0 up on aggregate – Kai Havertz’s goal after the first leg in Lisbon did the job – but a performance that produced just one shot on target in 90 minutes will not inspire confidence ahead of Sunday’s Etiha title decider.
Mikel Arteta’s side have done a tough job in this competition despite Sporting’s poor record in England, and the spirit at the Emirates, while audibly relaxed at the final whistle, reflected the tension that has been present throughout this form.
Noni Madueke limped off in the second half with a knee injury which is a major concern for the trip to Manchester.
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Arsenal’s last six Premier League games have been with the title |
The day |
|---|---|
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Man City (away) |
April 19 |
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Newcastle (home) |
April 25 |
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Fulham (home) |
May 2 |
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West Ham (away) |
May 10 |
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Burnley (home) |
May 17 |
|
Crystal Palace (away) |
May 24 |
Atlético Madrid await in the semi-finals – a tie which, if Arsenal thrashed them 4-0 in the group stage in October, will at least give reason for hope.
The immediate priority is the Premier League.
Arsenal lead by six points with a game in hand against City, and the game between them on Sunday could define the title race.
They lost at the Etihad, and City can get close to three points.
Stretching can reduce stress. Win, and Arsenal will make an important statement.
Worse than Gyokeres: Arteta must go down 4/10 Arsenal star loses 85% of duels
Arsenal secured their place in the last four of the Champions League but it was too far.
Their last win at the Etihad was back in 2015, and their 22-year wait for a Premier League title feels even more palatable with every point dropped.
Reports also suggest that Arteta could be in trouble if he fails to win the league again, with former midfielder and Como boss Cesc Fàbregas seen as the ‘right’ candidate to replace the Spaniard.
Arsenal have offered German manager Julian Nagelsmann representatives
Now, TEAMtalk and Graeme Bailey are reporting today that Julian Nagelsmann’s agents have approached Arsenal and let the club know they would welcome a move to the Premier League.
The 38-year-old, who has managed Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich – where he won the Bundesliga – took charge of the German national team in 2023, and his long-term desire to try out in England appears strong.
A move to Chelsea in 2023 was reportedly close but ultimately fell through.
TEAMtalk reports that while Arsenal have been contacted by Nagelsmann’s camp, the club has yet to follow up on that interest, and as things stand now, all clubs expect Arsenal to move on from Arteta.
A review will happen at the end of the season, as is the case with all top sides, but for now, the club’s support remains the same.
What that review concludes will largely depend on what happens over the next five weeks.
Sunday’s clash at the Etihad, Atlético’s semi-final and the fact that the Premier League trophy has finally arrived at the Emirates – those results will shape everything.
If Arteta delivers at least one of the two, Nagelsmann’s discussion remains in mind.
Otherwise, the summer review takes on a very different character.
If Arsenal were to pursue Nagelsmann, this glowing review from Aberdeen sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel is worth reading, as he claims in 2020 that the German is better than Pep Guardiola.
“One of the things that impresses me most about Julian is his ability to analyze,” said Pfannenstiel.
“For example, if I’m a DAZN technician during a live game, I also have to see certain things. It takes me three minutes to do basic encryption, for example. Julian needs 30 seconds.
“Julian is much better than Pep Guardiola when it comes to learning how they play and adjusting tactics correctly during the game.
“Pep is a person who analyzes a lot and then makes a decision. With Julian, the analysis goes with the observations. We are talking about a small window of time, but it can be important.
“After all, this is not a talent, but a gift. I have met many coaches, but Julian only has this quality. It is unique.”
Arsenal are now preparing a bid to sign the £30m Brazilian under Arteta’s orders
The Gunners could be planning to offer an “explosive” striker.
